DoorDash unveiled Dot earlier this month, an autonomous delivery robot designed to operate on sidewalks, bike lanes, roads, and driveways, and is purpose-built for local commerce.
As part of the company’s expansion into autonomous technology, Dot will debut through an early-access program in Tempe and Mesa, Arizona. DoorDash said the launch marks the beginning of its autonomous delivery service, with additional markets planned.
What is Dot?
Dot is DoorDash’s first commercial autonomous robot. The all-electric vehicle is approximately one-tenth the size of a car and can travel at speeds of up to 20 mph. It is designed to safely navigate neighborhoods and deliver food orders directly to customers’ doors.
“You don’t always need a full-sized car to deliver a tube of toothpaste or pack of diapers. That’s the insight behind Dot,” said Stanley Tang, Co-Founder and Head of DoorDash Labs.
Tang added that the goal was not just to make the vehicle autonomous, but to make it practical for everyday use. “The breakthrough wasn’t just making it autonomous, but in making it reliable and efficient to serve the needs of local businesses and consumers. Dot is purpose-built for the millions of deliveries we facilitate every day. It is small enough to navigate doorways and driveways, fast enough to maintain food quality, and smart enough to optimize the best routes for delivery.”
DoorDash said Dot is fully integrated into its merchant tools and consumer app. Customers place and track orders in the same way as before, and choose between the Dot, a human Dasher, or another partner to deliver based on cost, speed, and location.
How it will benefit Dashers, merchants, and consumers
The company defines Dot as a way to strengthen its network by balancing efficiency across people and technology. DoorDash said most deliveries will continue to be made by Dashers, while Dot will take on smaller, routine trips and fill the gaps in local trips, enabling the networks to run more efficiently.
“With more than 10 billion deliveries under our belt, we’ve learned what works, what doesn’t, and what scales,” said Ashu Rege, Vice President and Head of Autonomy at DoorDash Labs. “Making autonomous technology work for delivery requires reimagining it from the ground up. We’ve built Dot and our Autonomous Delivery Platform using advanced AI and robotics specifically designed for the complexities of local commerce.”
DoorDash said merchants may benefit from quicker fulfillment during peak hours and overnight periods. Tools like SmartScale, which utilize AI to verify order accuracy and weight, are designed to minimize errors and prepare orders for autonomous delivery.
Consumers can now have faster, more reliable deliveries while reducing congestion from short car trips. For Dashers, the introduction of Dot allows them to focus on more complex deliveries.
The company believes Dot, in concert with the Dasher community and other autonomous delivery robots, can materially improve business outcomes for hundreds of thousands of merchants while helping consumers access more of their communities and allowing Dashers to focus more on high-value orders that require human care.
How does Dot drive safely?
Dot isn’t just rolling down the street blindly. The robot is equipped with a full suite of cameras, sensors, and onboard computers that constantly scan its surroundings, similar to the systems you’d find in a self-driving car. As it moves through a neighborhood, it can recognize people crossing the street, cyclists sharing a bike lane, or even an unexpected obstacle, such as a garbage bin.
How does a delivery with Dot work, and what are the costs?
From the customer’s perspective, using Dot is the same as using a regular DoorDash order. You place an order in the app, which you can download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and your package arrives in an insulated compartment inside the robot. The delivery fee is the same as you would pay through a regular Dasher.
Looking ahead
DoorDash positioned Dot as part of a long-term investment in local economies. “Building a future of autonomous delivery will require operational excellence, merchant partnerships, regulatory alignment, community collaboration, and deep knowledge of local commerce,” the company said.
The rollout will begin in Arizona, with expansion expected to follow over time. Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman said the city was proud to be part of the early launch.
“Mesa has long been a proving ground for breakthrough ideas, and Dot is the latest example of American innovation in action. Seeing these autonomous delivery robots on streets throughout Mesa demonstrates how these advanced technologies can meet daily needs while strengthening the local businesses at the heart of our community. Our partnership with DoorDash underscores that Mesa, Arizona, isn’t just participating in the future of local delivery, we’re helping shape it.”
DoorDash said it will continue to build its Autonomous Delivery Platform and partner with leading robotics companies to expand into more communities. By combining human Dashers with autonomous systems, the company said it can create a more efficient network that benefits merchants, consumers, and workers alike.
“Autonomous delivery is a long-term investment in the future of local commerce,” the company said. “We are committed to scaling responsibly, with a focus on supporting merchants, delighting consumers, and creating more meaningful work for Dashers.”
DoorDash described Dot as a milestone in its mission to grow and support local economies. The robot is presented not as a replacement for people, but as something that works alongside them. By integrating directly into the company’s existing platform, Dot aims to provide consistency for consumers while offering merchants and Dashers new opportunities to succeed.